Periodic Inspections To Maintain OSHA ComplianceThe Role of Periodic Inspections in Staying OSHA Compliant
Navigating the Software Set-up process - InspectNTrack Smart SafetyNavigating The Software Set-Up Process with Smart Safety LOTO Software
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Periodic Inspections To Maintain OSHA ComplianceThe Role of Periodic Inspections in Staying OSHA Compliant
Navigating the Software Set-up process - InspectNTrack Smart SafetyNavigating The Software Set-Up Process with Smart Safety LOTO Software

LOTO software is revolutionizing the way lockout tagout procedures are written. With software, the time it takes to write procedures can be reduced by up to 90%.  Here are key advantages of using software to run your program and build procedures!

Manually writing lockout tagout procedures is a time-consuming process. Anyone who has done it before knows. It requires an in-depth understanding of compliance regulations (OSHA and ANSI), lockout tagout steps, and the specifications that make each piece of machinery unique.

Not to mention the fact that traditional methods can also result in inefficiencies, inconsistencies, and errors. Thankfully, modern solutions such as LOTO software make it easy to avoid the shortcomings of paper-based procedure writing. With software, you can build lockout tagout procedures much faster while also improving accuracy and compliance.

In this article, we’ll explore how LOTO software can simplify and accelerate the creation of lockout procedures. Be careful though. After hearing about the benefits of using software, you will likely want to invest in software! It really is that much of a game changer.

Mobile Lockout Tagout Procedure Builder - LOTO Software

Challenges of Writing Lockout Tagout Procedures Manually

Writing procedures is a multi-step process with a variety of elements that can be difficult to complete. Let’s take a look at the main challenges of traditional methods, so we can later see how software addresses these challenges and simplifies the procedure writing process.

Main Challenges of Writing Procedures

Manual procedure writing can be time-consuming to the point that even well-intentioned technicians look for ways to cut corners or complete the task more quickly. When writing lockout tagout procedures, it can be a real temptation to simply copy and paste what you have already drafted or create a very general procedure to use for all equipment. However, regulations require that procedures be equipment specific. This puts workers in a bind, trying to balance compliance with efficiency.

When procedures are written manually, it is harder to ensure consistency in the clarity of language and information provided. This challenge is then exacerbated by the fact that companies often write procedures and use them for a long time, therefore having various authors for the procedures they use.

Lockout tagout procedures that are written out on paper are easy to misplace or damage. As a result, those who write out their procedures have to either accept the risk of losing the document or take additional time to transfer the steps to another location – whether as a digital document or by making additional physical copies. This tends to be inefficient and tedious, making it more difficult for authorized employees to have the correct steps when they need them.

These points highlight the fact that manually writing and recording lockout tagout procedures can be an unideal solution. Now, let’s look at the alternative and see how software can positively counteract these challenges. 

How Software Mitigates These Issues

Software helps ensure regulatory compliance while writing procedures by offering prompts along the way. For example, it has you select the equipment that the procedure is specifically for, making the procedures equipment specific. It also has steps encouraging the creator to include all necessary information outlined in OSHA 1910.147(c)(4)(ii) – the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques that employees are to use to control hazardous energy and the means to enforce compliance.

With software, it is much easier to create lockout tagout procedures that are consistent and reliable. The platform prompts the user to input necessary info for each step of the process. That way, each set of procedures is thorough, complete, and understandable.

Using software, you no longer have to deal with lost papers or printing copies. Instead, the platform provides a central location for all lockout tagout procedures to be written, stored, and accessed. The admin can grant access to whichever employees need it, and authorized employees can use the procedures wherever they are, even if they don’t have wifi. This way, workers have what they need to get the job done, no matter what.

Not only does software minimize the challenges of writing lockout tagout procedures, it also offers some desirable benefits that are hard to ignore.

Benefits of Using Software to Write LOTO Procedures

Customizable Templates LOTO software provides you with a pre-built template that you can customize and fill in with all the information regarding your equipment and procedures. Rather than writing everything from scratch, you can use the procedure framework to build procedures that are dependable and standardized.
Equipment Identification  Lockout tagout procedures must be machine or equipment-specific. Software allows you to easily upload a pre-existing list or input one, that way you can then write tailored procedure steps. This makes it easy to track which machines already have procedures and which ones need to be drafted.
Developing Step-by-Step Instructions Software guides you through the writing process, prompting each step and ensuring information is provided for correct shutdown, isolation, and restart sequences.
Adding Helpful Photos/Diagrams  While writing procedures, you can use your digital device to take pictures of the machinery and energy sources and seamlessly add them to the software. Not only that, but you can also add annotations and arrows. Adding images to the procedures makes them easier to follow and promotes accurate execution.
Maintaining OSHA and ANSI Compliance The two main regulations relating to lockout tagout are OSHA 1910.147 and ANSI Z244.1. Staying on top of compliance with these regulations is no small task. However, our mobile procedure builder feature allows you to write loto procedures in-app and is designed to support compliance with these regulations.
Increased Efficiency Technology significantly speeds up the process of writing lockout tagout procedures by automating tasks, reducing the amount of manual data entry, and providing immediate access to necessary information.
Cloud Storage = Easy Access With our software, all data is saved in the cloud. This means that you can use the software to write procedures, make updates, or access information regardless of whether or not there is wifi. You and your team can use the software on digital devices with ease!

While using software might not solve all of your problems, it certainly can simplify the task of writing procedures. 

Want to learn how to write improved lockout tagout procedures? Check out our guide!

How to Build a Lockout Tagout Procedure in 5 Minutes

InspectNTrack Smart Safety software makes building lockout tagout procedures simple and straightforward. In fact, users can follow 3 main steps in order to write procedures (or edit existing ones) in a matter of minutes!

  • Step 1: Link Your Equipment & Energy Sources

    Start writing your procedure by selecting your equipment from a pre-uploaded list. If the machine is new and not already in the system, you can easily add it to the inventory right there in the app.

  • Step 2: Add Isolation Points, Verification Steps, & Warnings

    Once your equipment has been selected, add each energy source along with information such as the source’s location, isolation instructions, necessary locking device, and verification steps. Within the app there are drop-down selectors offering common options for each category to speed the process up and avoid repetitive data entry.

  • Step 3: Add Images & Annotations to Indicate Locations

    Finally, either upload or take pictures of each energy source for the equipment you are writing a procedure for. You can use features such as on-screen annotation to add labels and arrows for energy source locations and verification instructions.

When you are satisfied with the set of procedures, save it and give access to your authorized employees. And just like that, you have a set of lockout tagout procedures made with very little effort that is ready for use!

Using Smart Safety Pro Software for lockout tagout periodic inspections

Invest in InspectNTrack Smart Safety Software

Want to learn more about what InspectNTrack Smart Safety is and how it can help with lockout tagout? If so, connect with our team by requesting a demo!

Our team of specialists are happy to set up a meeting to help you determine if InspectNTrack Smart Safety software is right for your company’s needs. We believe in the power of our product to change the way safety is approached in the workplace and want to answer any questions you have. You got a briefing on how software can aid in lockout tagout procedure writing, but that was just the beginning! Our LOTO software can do a lot more to help with managing your program, and hope that you will give us the chance to show you just what it can do!

Conclusion

Writing lockout tagout procedures has often been seen as a tedious and lengthy process. Thankfully, modern solutions like LOTO software can be used to overcome the challenges of writing procedures. More than that, software improves the overall experience of writing procedures by making them standardized, supporting compliance efforts, and cutting down on the time it takes to create them.

In fact, InspectNTrack Smart Safety offers lockout tagout software that can help you write procedures 90% faster than with traditional methods! So check out Smart Safety software and book a demo today. Leave the outdated manual methods behind and instead embrace time savings, reduced safety risks, and minimized errors.

Mobile Lockout Tagout Procedure Builder - LOTO Software